Bear Creek, NC – Chatham Central High School was again designated as an AVID National Demonstration Site for the next three years.
AVID — Advancement Via Individual Determination — is a college-readiness program that has proved effective in helping students develop study and academic schools to ensure college readiness and success. Many AVID students are the first in their families to attend college.
Chatham Central High School is one of the few National Demonstration Schools in the country, particularly in rural areas. CCHS is one of about 200 other AVID National Demonstration Schools and was selected through an application process, screening, and review, which included a site visit. AVID is implemented in more than 8,000 schools in 49 states across the U.S., plus schools in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), Canada, and Australia, impacting more than 2 million students in grades K–12 and postsecondary institutions.
“We are so honored to again have Chatham Central named as an AVID National Demonstration Site,” said Dr. Karla Eanes, principal of Chatham Central High School. “This program has benefited our students in so many ways, helping set them on a path for future success. It is such an honor for our school to be recognized for our excellent implementation of AVID.”
AVID Chief Executive Officer Thuan Nguyen notes the significance of attaining Demonstration Site recognition. “Schools recognized as National Demonstration Sites have proven their ability to successfully implement the AVID Elective course and take the strategies schoolwide to impact all students,” says Nguyen. “Chatham Central High School was selected as an AVID National Demonstration School because it has implemented the AVID system throughout the school and can serve as a model for new AVID sites.”
The recognition of being an AVID National Demonstration School was established in 1993 with a $250,000 award from the Charles A. Dana Foundation of New York. As part of the AVID Demonstration Sites network, sites are expected to develop a model program with schoolwide participation. With AVID’s proven methodologies used throughout subject-area classes, performance levels improve for all students, but especially for those students who are the least likely to attend four-year colleges. Schools from around the world that are preparing to implement the AVID system will visit Demonstration Schools, such as this one, to observe a highly evolved AVID system.
“It is a tremendous honor to be selected as a National Demo Site, and we are proud of our AVID program and our school as a whole,” Eanes said. “The use of AVID strategies schoolwide has positively impacted students and staff, and we continue to see a more engaged and college-ready student body.”
Chatham County Schools is expanding AVID to all middle and high schools in the district.